Rock beauty angelfish
Holacanthus tricolor
Also known as Rock Beauty, Rock Beauty Angel, Yellow and Black Angelfish
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 13.8 in
- 35 cm
- Minimum tank
- 140 gal
- 530 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Own kind
- One per tank
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe with caution
- Family
- Pomacanthidae
- Origin
- Western Atlantic from Florida and Bermuda through the Caribbean to Brazil, on rocky and coral reefs rich in sponges.
Overview
The rock beauty angelfish is a marine angel for a large, mature tank. Its heavy dependence on sponge makes it one of the harder marine angels to keep, so it is a fish for experienced keepers.
Did you know
A juvenile rock beauty angelfish wears a blue-ringed black spot, and the spot fades with age.
Caring for the rock beauty angelfish
Give the rock beauty angelfish a mature tank of at least 140 gal (530 L), with abundant live rock. It is more timid and easily stressed than other large angels, so keep it in a calm, low-stress setting. The water should stay at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C), with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4.
Many rock beauty angelfish refuse prepared food and slowly starve, since their wild diet of living sponge is nearly impossible to copy at home. Offer sponge-based angelfish foods, provide sponge and vary the diet.
Keep only one rock beauty angelfish per tank, and pick its tank mates carefully. It nips soft and stony corals and clam mantles, so it is reef safe only with caution.
Good to know
The rock beauty angelfish, Holacanthus tricolor, belongs to the marine angelfish family Pomacanthidae. It is the smallest Atlantic Holacanthus, with a black body framed in bright yellow.
In the wild
The rock beauty angelfish ranges across the western Atlantic, from Florida and Bermuda through the Caribbean to Brazil. It keeps close to ledges and caves on rocky and coral reefs rich in sponges. It spends much of its day picking at those sponges.
Common questions
What size tank does a rock beauty angelfish need?
A rock beauty angelfish needs at least 140 gal (530 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a rock beauty angelfish need?
A rock beauty angelfish is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a rock beauty angelfish eat?
A rock beauty angelfish does best on sponge-based angelfish foods, plus sponge when you can provide it. Vary its diet, since many refuse prepared food and slowly starve.
How big does a rock beauty angelfish get?
An adult rock beauty angelfish reaches about 13.8 in (35 cm).
Related species
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